Time to Reconsider Open Wheel Racing on Ovals?

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With Roberts Wickens' being only the latest in violent Indy Car crashes is it time to reconsider open wheel racing on ovals?

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Scott Dixon Indy 2017

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Dan Wheldon

[4wheels]

No. It's racing, danger and risk have always been (and always should be) a part of it. Without risk, they might as well play video games.

Brian

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Injured IndyCar driver Robert Wickens' team boss Schmidt on crash



Injured IndyCar driver Robert Wickens' team boss Sam Schmidt has renewed calls for safety changes on ovals following the Pocono accident.

Wickens sustained injuries to his spine, lower extremities and right arm when his car was launched into the catchfencing over Ryan Hunter-Reay in last Sunday's race.

The Canadian rookie had rods and screws inserted into his spine during surgery on fractures on Tuesday, but a medical statement afterwards said the "severity of the spinal cord injury is indeterminate".

Schmidt Peterson team co-owner Schmidt was left quadriplegic after a crash on the Orlando oval in 2000.

Dan Wheldon was driving for Schmidt when he suffered his fatal crash at Las Vegas in 2011, and SPM drivers Mikhail Aleshin and James Hinchcliffe both sustained serious injuries in oval accidents in the last four years.

"We've got to figure something out, and I've been saying this since Dan died in 2011," Schmidt told Autosport.

"I hate complaining about something or calling for changes when I haven't got a solution. I'm not the guy with the answers.

"But what I've asked for since then is that in the turns where there is no grandstand so no spectator sight-lines are affected, they should go double-high with the SAFER barrier.

"Maybe that's only a short-term fix, but the SAFER is tested and it doesn't spring the cars back onto the track like some people have worried about regarding the 'plexiglass' solution.

"If you looked at a replay of Mikhail's accident, at Robbie's accident, and others - including NASCAR - another three feet of SAFER barrier would have contained the car within the track without this cheese-grater effect that catchfencing has.

"I don't know if that's a long-term fix, I don't know the level of investment required, but certainly on turns where spectator viewing isn't an issue, the oval tracks need to do something like that."

Schmidt lauded the work of the IndyCar safety team and the Lehigh Valley Hospital that is treating Wickens.

"I can't praise enough the IndyCar safety team and how they work with the local hospitals and surgeons," he said.

"The doctors are ticking all the boxes, doing everything they can, everything that needs doing for someone after such a violent crash when circumstances push the car and the human body to the absolute limit.

"To see Robbie with his eyes open at the infield care centre was huge, because 40 minutes of silence was just too long.

"Kudos to Dallara, the folks on the technical side of IndyCar, the safety team, and all the people who've contributed to the procedures and protocol that has been built in to the IndyCar system to cover those situations."

DTM convert Wickens is currently sixth in the championship in his rookie season, and Schmidt can foresee him returning to IndyCar should his surgeries and rehabilitation all prove successful.

"I've only known Robbie for about a year but he's the type of guy for whom racing is his life," he said.

"He's really enjoying IndyCar, he likes the atmosphere and the quality of the competition. It seems to suit him so well.

"So if he feels he can still be competitive, I have no doubt that he would come back. He's the type of committed, driven individual who can overcome huge setbacks.

"He's such a hard and talented driver that he makes everyone else in the team raise their game, higher than they've ever been before, and you see it in the pitstops, in the chassis development, and so on.

"He's testing people, but he's also inspiring them and so that also draws the team members closer.

"But that's what makes this kind of situation all that much worse.

"We all recognise his talents and we don't know if he could have got third or fourth in the championship this year, but he'd have given it a hell of a try.

"That's just a fantastic performance by a rookie, however much experience he had from other series."

Schmidt said there was "nothing left" of Wickens car, but that its safety cell had performed as it should.

"There's catchfence pieces intertwined in the entire chassis," he said.

"It's just a big pile of crap without a usable part - but that's how it's supposed to be, to dissipate energy during an accident like that.

"It helped protect the one element it's supposed to protect: the driver."

SPM will only enter Hinchcliffe's car for this weekend's Gateway race, with Schmidt admitting plans for the subsequent Portland and Sonoma rounds remained uncertain but that the sponsors on Wickens' cars had told the team to "focus on Robbie, focus on his needs, focus on his family, focus on Hinch having a successful finish to the season".

Schmidt added: "The phone's been ringing off the hook with potential replacements, but first I want to get the team in a huddle this weekend to discuss the best way forward."

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Robert Wickens breathing without medical assistance after crash


IndyCar driver Robert Wickens was breathing without medical assistance and began speaking with his family for the first time since his harrowing wreck at Pocono Raceway.

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports made the announcement shortly before the start of the IndyCar race at Gateway Motorsports Park.

The team is only fielding James Hinchcliffe's car for Saturday night's race, though a back-up No.6 car that Wickens had driven this season was parked outside the team's transport trucks.

Many drivers, crew members and fans were wearing "RW6" hats and T-shirts as they signed a "Get Well" sign in the paddock, and cars were carrying stickers that read "Better Stronger Faster."

"The team has a very strong character, a very strong culture. Everybody rallies around and rallies through it," Schmidt Peterson general manager Piers Phillips.

"The general spirit was been awesome and that's something here at SPM we've always tried to build from the start of the season."

Wickens crashed early in last Sunday's race at Pocono, touching Ryan Hunter-Reay and hurtling into the catch fence.

The Canadian driver's car was shredded and debris scattered across the track in a wreck that involved five cars but only left Wickens with serious injuries.

He was airlifted to a hospital and has undergone a series of surgeries, including a procedure to insert titanium rods and screws to stabilise his fractured spin.

Wickens also had surgery late in the week on his extremities, and will require additional surgery and rehabilitation.

IndyCar President Jay Frye has praised the way the new generation of car handled the impact of Wickens' wreck.

But he also acknowledged that improvements could be made not only to the car but also to the fencing at tracks and the way information is relayed to the public after major incidents.

The series was criticised for the time it took to announce Wickens was alive and alert.

"This new kit has the driver-side impact pieces that we think was an important element to the way the car held up," Frye said this weekend.

"There were also five or six other things that we've done to the car over the past few months, safety updates, and again they did their job.

"But as I say, we're never satisfied. Driver safety is our No.1 priority."

[robhart]

I think they should consider replacing the catch fencing (clear lexan panels or something just in front of the spectator areas) and raising the height of the safer barriers. I would also like to see Indycar have more races on the smaller (one mile or less) ovals.

[illeagle10]

First let me say that I wish Robert Wickens well and hope he recoups very fast to get back to what he loves!

Couple of thoughts about Indy cars on ovals. The first thing we have to remember is that Indy car accidents look more spectacular because the cars are designed to come apart to dissipate speed quicker. Even NASCAR still has accidents with cars getting up into the catch fences today. With that in mind The ovalmeister Rick Mears has long been trying for Indy car drivers to get back to driving the car and not the car driving the driver. Rick has gone as far as to say they should get rid of the wings on the cars altogether! Secondly I didn't understand IndyCar's move to remove the rear bumpers. While the cars look better ascetically today, the prior DW-12 was created as a safety factor for these types of accidents! I was never a fan of the looks of the DW-12 either, but what's more important safety or looks? Dan Wheldon spent the last year of his life developing the DW-12 to bring safety to the IndyCar series. I realize that even the previous car had some tendencies to fly at least there was some effort to keep these wheel to wheel accidents, where cars get airborne, from happening.

Another issue is Indy car has gone away from their roots and that was short track ovals where there weren't such catastrophic crashes. Milwaukee, Langhorn, Treton, Nazareth are just a few that are gone. Personally I really don't like the idea of a second Formula 1 series. That's what made Indy cars so unique that they ran on speedways, short ovals, road and street courses. These were the days when drivers worked on other drivers lap after lap to just to make that pass. Unfortunately today many drivers come in and try to win the race on the first lap. I believe that is one reason why you don't see drivers driving into their fifties anymore. Their gentlemen like driving was not the order of today. It seems blocking and cutting other guys off is what the newer guys are bringing, unfortunately being cut throat is the way to go. You just can't have that type of racing on Super Speeway ovals, no mater what type of car you're driving!

Jim

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Wickens breathing without assistance and speaking



Aug 25, 2018, 11:49 PM

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has revealed that Robert Wickens is now breathing again without assistance for the first time since his monstrous Pocono shunt.

As well as injuries to his arm, back, legs and feet, Wickens suffered pulmonary contusions – heavily bruised lungs – but this evening’s news reveals IndyCar’s super-rookie of 2018 has taken another step forward in his long road to recovery.

The statement from SPM reads: “For the first time following his Aug. 19 incident at Pocono Raceway, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens is breathing without medical assistance and speaking with his family.

“Robert’s family and the entire SPM organization are very pleased to share this information and wish everyone a safe event tonight in St. Louis.”

The SPM-Honda team is running only the #5 car of James Hinchcliffe at tonight’s Bommarito Automotive 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

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Wickens medical update, family reveals extent of injuries




Robert Wickens has undergone surgeries for his legs and hands, but his family has also decided to list the full injury toll from his huge accident at Pocono Raceway last month.

Wickens was last week transferred from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania to the IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, and the legs and hands surgeries for the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver are described in the team’s official statement as being “completed without complication.”

The statement continues: “Wickens is expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation center in the coming days to begin the recovery process. The severity of the spinal cord injury he sustained in the incident remains indeterminate and under evaluation. Physicians stress it could take weeks or months for the full effects of the injury to be known.

The Wickens family stated: “We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love, prayers and positive energy that has been sent our way since Robert’s accident. We are blown away by the strength of this IndyCar community and the support within it. While Robert’s recovery and rehabilitation continue over the coming weeks and months, your loving messages will certainly be a source of encouragement for him."

However, the family also decided to reveal the full extent of Wickens’ injuries to avoid speculation and correct those who apparently played it down.

"As unverified sources immediately following Robert's accident inaccurately and without permission portrayed his condition as less than severe,” read the statement, “in an effort to remain transparent and open, we are providing a list of Robert’s injuries to truly showcase the severity of what our son / brother / fiancé / friend / teammate has gone through and will be recovering from in the months to come.”

Among the injuries Wickens sustained were:

• Thoracic spinal fracture
  
• Spinal cord injury 
  
• Neck fracture
• Tibia and fibula fractures to both legs 
• Fractures in both hands 
  
• Fractured right forearm 
  
• Fractured elbow 
• Four fractured ribs 
• Pulmonary contusion 

Team co-owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson added: “The IndyCar community has been nothing but supportive the last few weeks. We are grateful for their support as well as the exceptional care given to Robert by the AMR IndyCar Safety Team, the IndyCar Medical Staff, the surgeons and nursing staff at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest and everyone at IU Health Methodist Hospital.

“While Robert continues his recovery, we want to make it clear that the #6 entry is for Robert Wickens and him only. No matter the amount of time it takes for his full recovery, we will hold that seat for him.

“Carlos Munoz, the named driver for the last two events on the 2018 calendar is doing a great job for us to keep the #6 owner championship points alive, and we very much appreciate all the hard work he’s putting into helping us finish the season.

“The road to Robert’s recovery will be a long and tough one, but we hope you’ll be alongside us cheering him on. BETTER. STRONGER. FASTER.”

The SPM statement concluded: “An update will be provided when Wickens has been transferred to his rehabilitation facility. Further updates will come from Wickens.

"Alongside the team, he will document his recovery process and share updates at appropriate times. SPM, the Wickens family and Robert ask everyone to respect their request for privacy at this time.”

So strong were Wickens' performances in IndyCar that even in his absence, he wrapped up the Rookie of the Year title one race early, in Portland last weekend. He currently lies seventh in the championship, despite not even starting the previous two races.

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Wickens to make IndyCar paddock return at St Pete



Robert Wickens will return to the IndyCar paddock for the first time since his dramatic crash at Pocono last year at the 2019 season opener in St Petersburg this weekend.

The Canadian confirmed on social media that he'll be attending the race, taking part in the official signing session on the Friday and a meet-and-greet through tyre supplier Firestone on the Sunday.

The St Pete visit doesn't just mark Wickens' return to an IndyCar race after his crash, but also marks the one-year anniversary of his stunning debut in the series.

The former DTM star took pole and led the majority of the race before clashing with Alex Rossi just two laps from the end.

Wickens is technically still part of the Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsport outfit this season, his #6 entry put on ice until he's ready to return to the cockpit.

The team's new signing Marcus Ericsson will therefore run #7 this season, highlighting that he's not a direct replacement for Wickens.

twitter.com/i/status/1103060674467385344

[Bernard Kron]

The original question was “Time to Reconsider Open Wheel Racing on Ovals?”, the implication being a consideration of open wheel cars per se. But the discussion which followed is more general, about the dangers inherent in oval track racing in general and recent measures to mitigate them.

I’m old enough to have attended road racing events where we stood behind chicken wire fences 10-20 ft. from the pavement surface and, when the cars got sideways and went off the track into the hay bales favored at the time, the audience just stepped back hoping to not get caught up in the melee. I can’t recall any discussion among us, ever, faulting the racer, the organizers, or the sport in general, for endangering our lives.

So things have changed mightily, and today organizers, drivers, sanctioning bodies, et al, live in mortal fear of personal liability for the death, injury, or loss of livelihood of a long list of possible victims, including other drivers, corner workers, spectators and even sponsors. It was a gradual evolution, over the decades. Once upon a time the New York Times had a European correspondent, Robert Daley, whose beat was blood sports, bullfighting and motor racing (sports car road racing and grand prix). But along with the increased concern for, and achievement of, improved safety, has come a quantum leap in cornering speeds, terminal velocity, average lap speeds and downforce, all accompanied by similar quantum leaps in cost and abstraction, to the point now where the sport in general is in crisis, the cars bearing less and resemblance to anything likely to be driven on the street now or in the future.

My own opinion regarding open wheel cars is that they have always looked more “mechanical”, more directly connected to the art of driving. So I’ve preferred them aesthetically. The drivers themselves preferred them because they were convinced they could place the cars more accurately if they could see the wheels. As seating positions, aerodynamics, and safety paraphernalia increasingly have limited their field of vision this is probably far less likely to have an impact. Interestingly, more and more open wheel designs are enclosing various areas of the wheel circumference, while more and more “fendered” racing cars (and street supercars) are opening up huge channels for airflow where bodywork once resided. The two types of designs are converging.

This combination of huge G-forces, both vertical and lateral, enormous average and terminal velocities, and design trends which increasingly blur the lines between open-wheel and fendered pure racing cars means that on top level oval tracks the risks to both drivers and trackside attendees is exponentially greater than it ever has been, and, in physical terms, likely to increase even more. The work done to mitigate these risks has been herculean and the injury and death toll is spectacularly small compared to what is implied by the physical forces in play. I don’t think enclosing wheels and tires will make much of a difference in these circumstances, and the suggestions regarding SAFER barriers, catch fencing, etc. are much more to the point. On the track surface these days I think it’s mainly down to the drivers, and in the world of American high speed ovals the difference in skill and judgment between the very best professionals and even journeyman drivers, let alone the legions of semi-professionals who come and go, has always been vast, resulting in a permanent state of extreme risk, IMHO. This is unlikely to change regardless of design regulations.

While we can all build model cars in appreciation of a more mechanically “connected” era in motorsport, hyper-performance, huge costs and a kind of scientific abstraction are the realities of the age and the autodrome of the future, and the cars that run within it, is likely to reflect this.